I am writing this from a national forest campground on Wrangell Island; this spot is among the most beautiful places that I have ever camped, and that is from someone who has camped all over the US and Canada. I am looking down on a channel of the inside passage, with another island across the way that has peaks above timberline; no doubt a place that mountain goats reside. Where we are camping, I picked fresh blueberries each day for cobbler and pancakes; those were the ones that didn't get eaten as I picked. The hill by camp is absolutely alive with berries, and if the bears didn't have so many salmon to eat, they would be in here right now.
As our 2 month trip winds down from camping in the Great Land, we have found some favorite spots. Although I expected to like the interior the most (and Denali was spectacular, as was the rest of the Alaska Range), the southeast coast has been the best of the best, at least for us. The area around Anchorage, although tremendously scenic, is very crowded, and my concept of Alaska is 'no crowds'. The southeast coastal towns are much more to my liking; small, friendly, and laid back. We particularly enjoyed Haines, Petersburg, and Wrangell. These places are what we expected of Alaskan communities.
Wildlife viewing was a major reason to visit Alaska, and with the exception of not seeing one mature bull moose, we weren't disappointed. Denali gave us great looks at grizzlies, caribou, dall sheep, ptarmigan, one wolf, and lots of cow and calf moose. Ocean trips showed us harbor seals, stellar sea lions, humpback whales, mountain goats, killer whales, and literally millions of sea birds. We saw brown bears and black bears by the bunches. Eagles are everywhere there is a body of water. It doesn't get any better than Alaska for seeing critters.
I have a whole new respect for those who hunt Alaska. Although the mountains are STRAIGHT UP, and covered with the most dense forest imaginable. Everything is wet and soggy, and muskeg is like walking on a sponge. If you haven't been here and are thinking about hunting the great north, it would be a good idea to be in the absolute best shape of your life. Hunting in the Rockies is tough, but would be a cake walk in comparison to much of what we saw in Alaska.
There is very little access by road in comparison to the lower 48. Hunting for most species would entail boat or float plane to get there. Weather, at least for us, was drenching rain for most days. Sunshine was in short supply. A hunting trip would necessitate raingear of the highest quality, and even then, you almost always feel waterlogged. Nothing stays dry for long.
The country is so big and vast that it is hard to get your head around it. It just goes on and on forever, and a wilderness camp in Alaska is the definition of wilderness. A bear in camp, a broken bone, even a twisted ankle, and you could be in a life threatening situation. This is NOT a place for wimps.
So, as we head south in the next couple of days, we know that even with $12 hamburgers, unrelenting rain, forests where you can't see 10 yards in front of you, and scary gas prices, that we will have to come back. The Last Frontier is a place that anyone who loves the outdoors MUST do in their lifetime. I love Wyoming and the Rockes, but there is something about Alaska that beckons you back. I will return, but until then, I will have photos and memories to reflect on.
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Stump shooting on Wrangell Island
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Black bear fishing; this is Alaska at it's best
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Brown bear; she had cubs and is not to be trifled with
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old Sitka spruce trees make for great targets on the islands.
Very nice. Thanks for sharing. I've been to Alaska a few times, though didn't travel it as extensively as you did. I agree with your assessment all the way around.
Thanks for sharing your adventure with us sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
My wife and went up for our 30'th anniversary in '07.We did the cruise thing with both land and sea. Not as long as your adventure but you said it all.....breath taking!! Went Kayaking, hiking, and just saw some of the most beautiful country in the world! Thanks for taking me back!!
Great pictures!! Thank you for sharing.
I've camped there, too. Of course it was raining the entire 2 weeks. Beautiful country.
It is awesome!!
We went in '84. Landed at Fairbanks, stayed with my sister and brother-in-law at Eielson AFB. Took the western route down to Anchorage then on to Seward and took eastern route back up. 2 weeks wasn't enough time. Enjoyed every minute.
I love Colorado but it can't hold a candle to Alaska. And, yes, from a good vantage point it just goes on and on and on.
Good for you! Great trip and thanks for sharing.
Fantastic trip,thanks ever so much for sharing,looks like your giving the Thunderchild a good workout,all the best!
Thanks, Centaur.Alaska's the only State I haven't visited yet. You've inspired me to start planning a trip there. Alex
Great pictures, thanks for sharing it all with us. I've never been there yet but would like to some day.
Thank you Sir for taking us there!
I'll be going to Alaska in 2013, and I'm already dreaming of it every day!
F-Manny
Great reflections. Hunted the Moose John with Ernie Holland in '08.
You're descriptions took me back. The only place I ever really felt like the civilized world was light years away. Everyone should be experience that once.
Can't wait for my return to Alaska in less than 10 days.
Thanks for sharing your trip and your observations.
We have been to Alaska a few times and spent time in several different areas,.
Southeast Alaska and the inside passage are our favorite as well.
I tell everyone pictures don't do it justice you have to experience the vastness of the land.
Thanks for taking me back for a few minutes.
The folks who currently live in Anchorage will probably want to thump me with a blunt for posting this, but here goes.
Anchorage is adjacent to Chugach State Park (http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/chugach/) and the Chugach Mountains. (Actually, the park is within the municipal boundary.) This park is 500,000 acres of wilderness that in the Lower 48 would easily qualify as a national park. It has, in no particular order, glaciers, moose, brown/grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, wolverines, Dall sheep, hiking trails, campgrounds, cabins, and many other things of interest to outdoors-oriented people like us. One of my favorite memories is riding my bike south from our Anchorage home down along Turnagain Arm and seeing Dall rams on the cliffs next to the road (about 200 feet above me) and beluga whales in the water alongside me -- simultaneously. (Yes, I know the belugas are now much diminished, but the sheep still show up there regularly at certain times of the year.)
My point is that you can have a jaw-dropping Alaska wilderness experience without breaking the bank on additional transportation expenses once you get to Anchorage. The park is somewhat heavily used on its urban-facing fringe but far less as you go deeper into its backcountry.
Wherever in Alaska you are thinking of going, my number one recommendation is to buy a copy of The Milepost (http://milepost.com/) . This is the single best guide to Alaska and the adjacent Canadian provinces, as well as being one of the best travel guides for any area on the planet. My number two recommendation: Don't put off the trip to "someday". Make it happen. And always have your binoculars with you when you do.
great stuff there.
would love to one day hunt alaska.
"Alaska",just saying the name sends a thrill down ones spine! Wish I lived there or B.C. either would be great! :thumbsup:
I leave for Lake Eva on Baranof Island on Sunday.
The main goal is sockeye with a flyrod, but I'm bringing my bow and grabbed a small game license for kicks.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Pat!
Hope you have a safe trip home to Wyoming! Thanks for sharing with us. Looks like you are having a blast up there!
Josh
Just had to look again at the breathtaking scenery.
QuoteOriginally posted by eidsvolling:
Wherever in Alaska you are thinking of going, my number one recommendation is to buy a copy of The Milepost (http://milepost.com/) . This is the single best guide to Alaska and the adjacent Canadian provinces, as well as being one of the best travel guides for any area on the planet. My number two recommendation: Don't put off the trip to "someday". Make it happen. And always have your binoculars with you when you do.
I agree 100 percent! The Milepost is a must, as is not waiting for someday. I will be heading back there within the next year or so depending on the economy and finances.